Fuel-preparing apparatus for gas engines



May 15, 1923. 1,455,183

F. G. WRIGHT FUEL PREPARING APPARATUS FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Aug. 5, 1920 INVENTOR. W BY 4 t ATTORNEY- Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES FRANK G. WEIGHT, 013 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

FUEL-PREPARING APPARATUS FOR GAS ENGINES.

Application filed August 3, 1920. Serial No. 400,941.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Fuel-Preparing Apparatus for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus to be used in connection with the carbureter and intake manifold of a gas engine for heating the fuel in its passage from the carbureter to the gas engine cylinders and for admitting additional air between the car bureter andthe engine cylinders and the ob jects of my invention are: First, to provide an apparatus of this class to be interposed between the carburetor and intake manifold of a gas engine for heating the gas in its passage from the carbureter to the engine cylinders; second, to provide an apparatus of this class with means for admitting additional air from the outside to the fuel mixture after it has passed the throttle of a carbureter; third, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the air admitted is preheatedby conduction through the walls of the exhaust manifold of a gas engine; fourth, to provide a device of this class in which the air admitted is controlled by the action of the spark lever of the gas engine; fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which there is no'movement of the air valve until the spark lever is advanced to a certain predetermined position; sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class wherein the heat is controlled simultaneously with the control of the ignition so that the heater is not operating when the engine is idle; sev- 40 enth, to provide an apparatus of the class wherein the fuel mixture is both heated and super-heated in it-spassage and eighth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is simple and economical of construction, durable, easy to install in the different makes of engines now in use and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order. With theseand other objects in view as will appear hereinafter my invention con- 0 sists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charac ters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a carbureter and intake manifold showing my device in section through 11 of Fig. 2 interposed between said carbureter and intake manifold; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through 2-2 ofFig. 1 and showing the wiring and exhaust heater diagrammatically in connection therewith; Fig. 3 is a detailed diagrammatical View showing the engine fragmentarily and showing my device in position thereon showing the intake manifold in section; Fig. 4 is a sectional view through i -4E of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through 55 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The insert member 1, tube 2, plunger 3, plunger rod 4, plunger operatingrod 5, link 6, arm 7, spring 8, conductors 9, supporting clamp 10, heating elements 11 and 11 terminal 12, conductor 13, spark coil 14, battery 15 and magneto 16 constitute the principal parts and portions of my fuel preparing apparatus.

The insert member 1 is preferably an in sulation member shaped to form a gasket between the carburetor and intake manifold and is provided with a central hole 1 conforming to the interior of the ca-rbureter outlet and intake manifold and is provided with holes adapted for the conventional bolts for connecting the intake manifold to the carbureter. It is preferred to construct it about one-quarter to five-sixteenths ,Qf an inch in thickness and extending from the hole 1 to the outer upper side are a plurality of small intake orifices 1 in alinement in certain spaced relation to each other as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In the upper surface of this 'member 1 is provided a curved shaped groove adapted for the tube 2 to fit therein and this tube is held in position by means of a hood 2 which fits over said tube 2 and is secured to the opposite sides of said member 1 by means of pins 2". This tube 2 is provided with a plurality of orifices 2 which conform with the orifices 1 in the member 1 as shown best inFig. 2 of the drawings. This tube 2 is provided with one closed end and the otherend open. In the close sad provided a sma l hole adapted for the plunger rod 4 which is secured to a plunger 3 which is adapted to fit the interior of the tube 2 and forms a valve for admitting air into the orifices 2 and 1 and therefore into the intake manifold. This tube 2 extends some distance at one end and connects with a conductor 9 which also connects with another conductor 9", a portion of which is secured against the sides of the exhaust manifold by means of a band clamp 10 which fits against said tube and is provided wit-h ofi'set port-ions adapted to fit against the tube 9 for securing the tube 9 in position against the exhaust manifold as shown best in Figs, 2 and 5. This tube at its extended end is provided with a plurality of small holes on the side against the exhaust manifold thus providing a means of heating the air by means of the exhaust gas by conduction through the walls of the manifold in its passage to the intake manifold. The plunger 3 is operated by means of the rod 5 which passes between the cylinders of the engine and connects with a link member 6 shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The other end of said link member connects with an arm 7 which is secured to the spark lever of the vehicle adjacent the spark lever rod and this arm is provided with a pin in its extended end which is adapted to engage this linkand the end of the arm 7 and the rod 5 areconnected by a spring 8 thus providing a'means whereby the spark lever may be moved for advancing the'spark some distance before the lug 7 engages the link (3 for shifting the plunger for admitting air. Mounted in the hole 1 in the member 1 is an electrical heating element 11 in conical shaped form as shown and it is connected W with a cylindrical heating element 11 in general zigzag winding and passing around the interior of the intake manifold and insulated from the interior, the one end groundingon the intake manifold and the a5 ther end connects with a terminal 12 which extends out through the member 1 andon the outer end is connected an electrical condug: 13 which connects with the spark coil an attery, of the engine thus providing for electrically heating the fuel mixture and the air asuit passes into the intake manifold. -The conductor 13 connects with the coil 14 through a switch 13 and this conductor 13 alsoconnects with a battery 15 and magneto 16 through a. switch 13 so that the elements 11 andll maybe operated from the battery ormagneto so thatthe intake manifold may be; heated as desired before starting the en ginepthen turned off ormay be continued ifromithe magneto as desired.

Though I have shown and described a particularconstruction, combination and arrangement of partsand portions I do not .,wish vto beg-limited. to this particular cons StfqCtlQIl, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the purview of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement sulistantially as set forth in the appended claims.

It is obvious that with this construction there is provided an apparatus for preparing fuel for gas engines in which the fuel is heated at the juncture of the carhureter and intake manifold by an electrically controlled current and that the member supporting the heating element also provides ameans for admitting preheated air from the outside in regulated quantities controlled entirely b the action of the spark lever and opened wit the advance of the spark that the air passing 30 from the outside is preheated by coming in close proximity with the exhaust manifold of the gas engine thus providing means for doubly heating the air and ,for heating the fuel mixture from the carbureter.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by L'et ters Patent is:

1. A fuel preparing apparatus for gas engines. including a gasket like member interposed between the carbureter and intake manifold of a gas engine provided with a plurality of air inlet ports, a valve communicating with said air inlet ports and means connecting said valve with the spark lever of the vehicle whereby said valve will remain closed while the spark is retarded for starting purposes and is opened with certain advanced movement of the spark lever.

2. A fuel preparing apparatus for gas engines, including a valve for admitting air into the intake manifold of a gas engine and means connecting said valve with the spark lever whereby said valve will remainclosed while the spark is retarded for starting purposes and is opened with certain advanced movement of the spark lever.

3. A fuel preparing apparatus for gas engines. including a valve for admitting air into the intake manifold of a gas engine, means connecting said valvewith the spark lever whereby said valve is operated with the movement of the spark lever and means in connection with said means whereby the valve is not operated until the s ark is ltd-" vanced a certain predetermined distance 4. A. fuel preparing apparatus for gasengines. including a valve for admitting a ir into the intake manifold of a, gas on 'ne, means connecting said valve with the. spat-k4 lever whereby said valve is operated with the movement of the spark lever and a conductor connecting with said valve with its one end contacting with the exhaust manifold whereby heated air, by conducti0mal2 through the walls of the manifold, is introduced into the intake manifold.

5. A fuel preparing apparatus for gase'n- Vines. includin a valve for admittin air 7 2* int the intake manifold of ages original-i means connecting said valve with the spark heating element for heating the air and fuel lever whereby said valve is operated with mixture in its passage to the engine cylinder 10 the movement of the spark lever, a conelectrically connected with the ignition ductor connecting With said valve With mechanism of the vehicle.

5 its one end contacting With the exhaust In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set manifold whereby heated air, by conduction my hand at San Diego, California, this 29th through the Walls of the manifold, is introday of July, 1920. duced into the intake manifold, an electrical FRANK G. WRIGHT. 

